Seat slide structure

Abstract

A seat slide structure includes upper and lower track members having U-shaped leg portions which interfit with each other. The track members are spaced and laterally located by plastic slides which fit between the base of the upper track member and the bights of the legs of the lower track member. A locking plate is vertically movable within the upper track member and includes spaced pairs of locking portions engageable with spaced pairs of locking notches in the bights of the legs of the lower track member to provide a dual latch locking the upper track member in a horizontal position relative to the lower track member. The latch member is releasably biased to locked position and is released by a locking lever engageable therewith upon pivoting movement of the lever relative to the upper track member.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A seat slide structure comprising, in combination, an elongated track member having a base and a generally U-shaped cross-section leg extending laterally from each side of the base and located inwardly thereof, each leg opening to the base of the track member, a second elongated track member having a base and a generally U-shaped cross-section leg extending laterally from each side of the base and located outwardly thereof, each leg opening outwardly of the base of the second track member, the base of the second track member being juxtaposed to the base of the first track member and the U-shaped legs of the first and second track members interfitting with each other,   slide means interfitting between the base of the first track member and the bight of each U-shaped leg of the second track member to slidably mount the first track member on the second track member,   the bights of the legs of the second track member each being provided with a longitudinal series of locking notches, the notches of the bights being arranged in pairs transversely of the second track member,   a latch member including at least one pair of outwardly extending locking portions which are movable within vertically elongated slots provided in the legs of the first track member to mount the latch member for movement between a locking position wherein such locking portions are received within a pair of locking notches of the second track member and a released position wherein such portions are free of engagement with any pair of such locking notches to permit horizontal movement of the first track member relative to the second track member,   means biasing the latch member toward locked position, and   means for moving the latch member to released position.   
     
     
       2. A seat slide structure comprising, in combination, an elongated track member having a base and a generally U-shaped cross-section leg extending laterally from each side of the base and located inwardly thereof, each leg opening to the base of the track member, a second elongated track member having a base and a generally U-shaped cross-section leg extending laterally from each side of the base and located outwardly thereof, each leg opening outwardly of the base of the second track member, the base of the second track member being juxtaposed to the base of the first track member and the U-shaped legs of the first and second track members interfitting with each other,   slide means of low friction plastic material including a pair of slide members, each engaging the base of the first track member and including a groove slidably engaging a respective bight of a respective U-shaped leg of the second track member to slidably mount the first track member on the second track member,   the second track member being provided with a longitudinal series of locking notches,   a latch member mounted on the first track member for movement between a locking position engaged with the locking notches of the second track member and a released position free of engagement with such locking notches,   means biasing the latch member toward locked position, and   means for moving the latch member to released position.   
     
     
       3. A seat slide structure comprising, in combination, an elongated track member having a base and a generally U-shaped cross-section leg extending laterally from each side of the base and located inwardly thereof, each leg opening to the base of the track member, a second elongated track member having a base and a generally U-shaped cross-section leg extending laterally from each side of the base and located outwardly thereof, each leg opening outwardly of the base of the second track member, the base of the second track member being juxtaposed to the base of the first track member and the U-shaped legs of the first and second track members interfitting with each other,   slide means slidably mounting the first track member on the second track member,   the bights of the legs of the second track member each being provided with a series of longitudinally spaced pairs of locking notches,   a latch member including spaced pairs of outwardly extending locking portions which are movable within spaced pairs of vertically elongated slots of the first track member to mount the latch member for movement between a locking position wherein such spaced pairs of locking portions are received within spaced pairs of locking notches of the second track member, and a released position wherein such locking portions are free of such engagement to permit horizontal movement of the first track member relative to the second track member,   means biasing the latch member toward locked position, and   means for moving the latch member to released position.   
     
     
       4. A seat slide structure comprising, in combination, an elongated track member having a base and a generally U-shaped cross-section leg extending laterally from each side of the base and located inwardly thereof, each leg opening to the base of the track member, a second elongated track member having a base and a generally U-shaped cross-section leg extending laterally from each side of the base and located outwardly thereof, each leg opening outwardly of the base of the second track member, the base of the second track member being juxtaposed to the base of the first track member and the U-shaped legs of the first and second track members interfitting with each other,   slide means slidably mounting the first track member on the second track member,   the bights of the legs of the second track member each being provided with a series of longitudinally spaced pairs of locking notches,   a latch member including spaced pairs of outwardly extending locking portions which are movable within spaced pairs of vertically elongated slots of the first track member to mount the latch member for movement between a locking position wherein such spaced pairs of locking portions are received within spaced pairs of locking notches of the second track member, and a released position wherein such locking portions are free of such engagement to permit horizontal movement of the first track member relative to the second track member,   spring means seating between the base of the first track member and the latch member and biasing the latch member toward locked position, and   a release lever pivotally mounted on the first track member and engageable with the latch member opposite the bias of the spring means to lift the latch member to released position against such bias.